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Post by SiLamb on Oct 20, 2014 1:42:46 GMT
Thank you all for your support! I was pulling my hair out.
I started by pulling the hay bin that was on the first floor out from under the 2nd floor overhang. That helped. It forced Harry to be out in what I call "the sunlight" but really is only the light bulb. This dramatically altered his behavior. After a day, Harry and Weasley were actually hanging out together peacefully.
On Thursday I purchased the Uhaul pad that Piggles recommended. On Friday, I installed the pad, cleaned the cage, and moved the kitchen to a split kitchen upstairs. Downstairs is where the pigloos and tunnel went.
The change was perfect. They are getting along fabulously now. Weasley is sticking up for himself now when Harry tries to be a stinker. I even noticed that Weasley no longer lifts his head to reveal his neck to Harry. Harry seems to be accepting this change, albeit reluctantly.
Harry and Weasley are successfully sharing one water bottle, but during the madness I ordered online a second bottle. The additional bottle arrived yesterday, so now their are two of everything in the kitchen.
As well as this new setup is working, I'm not going back. If I make no other changes, I think I'm perfectly happy with the current set up. That is until one of my boys (most likely Harry) comes up with a new way to torture Weasley that I'll have to figure out a solution to.
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Post by 3piggles on Oct 20, 2014 12:53:58 GMT
Wonderful
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Post by jolovespiggies on Oct 20, 2014 16:53:52 GMT
So pleased for you hun and of course the piggies too.
Hugs JO xx
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Post by SiLamb on Oct 20, 2014 20:49:22 GMT
Thanks pickles and Jo.
So I have a confession. I just went to the fabric store as they had a 60% off Blizzard fleece and I couldn't resist. I walked away spending $91. it would have been more but I have a $5 off coupon. I still have opportunity to return my purchases that I change my mind on but I couldn't resist the sale.
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Post by 3piggles on Oct 21, 2014 15:48:04 GMT
Just got the latest sale flyer ftom Joann Fabrics, and totally fighting a trip to the fabric store. I have enough fleece pads. They are just getting old and worn. My old froggy fleece still looks great, but is made with toweling. The Uhaul pad will turn light colors darker. I forgot to say to use those color catcher pads in the wash, if you have light colored fleece.
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Post by SiLamb on Oct 21, 2014 17:51:07 GMT
It was at Joann Fabrics that I bought the fleece Thanks for the advice about the color catchers. Speaking of washing the uhaul pads, can they go in the dryer?
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Post by jolovespiggies on Oct 21, 2014 18:33:03 GMT
Ha ha love, that is what sales are for love, not to be resisted LOL!!A couple of pouches have been made by a really good friend of mine for my hoggie, piggies have plenty and they love running in and out.
Hugs JO xx
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Post by 3piggles on Oct 21, 2014 21:11:49 GMT
Yes, SiLamb, the pads can go in the dryer. They dry at about the same rate as the fleece, which is nice. With the towels, the fleece dried quickly, but the toweling needed a lot more drying time. The fleece on the pads made with the Uhaul blanket is just kind of grayed compared to the pieces I haven't washed the blankets. I keep trying to remember to research making my own color catchers, as the ones on the market have perfume in them, and I'm allergic to it.
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Post by jolovespiggies on Oct 22, 2014 18:44:07 GMT
They are good aren't they for drying? I find the hoggie's blanket and pouch together with the ones that the piggies have, dry really quickly. I just hang them somewhere for a short while and they are dry.
Hugs JO xx
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Post by 3piggles on Oct 22, 2014 19:48:22 GMT
Toweling is in a completely different category for drying. Fleece dries very quickly. Towels seem to take forever The pads dry pretty quickly, so if sewn together, both parts dry in a reasonable time.
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Post by SiLamb on Oct 27, 2014 16:49:59 GMT
I have a few stories from over the weekend which will amuse you all... 1. Uhaul pads...I had bought a Uhaul pad that I cut up and used under the fleece. On Friday I decided to wash the fleece and Uhaul pad. Well, I learned that I should have done two things after purchasing the Uhaul pads and one thing after washing them. First, I should have washed it. Did you know that they shrink when washed? Well, they do. So they no longer fit Hogwarts. Second, I should have sewed the cut edges. I bet you can guess what my washer and dryer look like. Lots and lots of dark fuzzy material everywhere. Now, when I told hubby this, he had thought that it would be common knowledge that it shrink and shred. Well, I guess the common knowledge completely escaped my knowledge base. I admit that before I put the cut pieces in the washer that maybe the edges should be sewed shut but I thought that it was too late since it was now full of urine. What I learned about drying them is that I have to watch the heat levels and length of time in the dryer....the blue outer layer melted away in places. Least to say Hogwarts cleaning day wasn't going so well for me. Kind hubby surprised me with a new Uhaul blanket when he came home from work. 2. Weasley...I decided that I would take advantage of cage cleaning time and put Weasley in Harry's first cage which was nothing more than a large plastic bin that we converted. I put this in The Burrow (aka kitchen bathroom) and turned on the vaposteam. I knew that the size of this bin was not large enough for two boars, so I put Harry in a small pen next to where Weasley was. I then proceeded about cleaning the cage. As I was on my way to the garage to throw the fleece/uhaul pads into the washer, I thought I'd stick my head into The Burrow to check on the boys. Weasley was no longer in the plastic bin but now standing outside Harry's pin talking with him. I have no idea how Weasley got out. The walls to that bin are 15-18 inches high. I panicked because the bathroom door was open and Weasley could have escaped to any part of the house. I immediately put Weasley back into the bin and decided to add Harry to it as well. I checked often on them after that and found both boys at opposite ends of the bin laying down. No more escape attempts. It proved to me that the boys are quite capable of escaping at most any time but that as long as they are together, they are quite content staying enclosed. It also confirmed to me that they are definitely a bonded pair.
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Post by 3piggles on Oct 27, 2014 17:37:48 GMT
Oops, sorry I forgot to mention those things. I also have an HE washer without a center agitator. I think the agitator might cause more of the stuffing to come out, if you have that type of washer. I did sew the edges, but with a good seam allowance, and nothing has come out of the seam allowance part in my washer. Also, the fleece only needs to be dried on low, and the pads will dry on low, too. I think I use about a 30 minutes cycle to dry my combo pads, and everything is dry by then. Again, sorry about that That's excellent about the boys being bonded. I think it has to happen on their schedule, in their way. We can try, but sometimes it's best to just leave them next to each other until they decide they want something more. Totally voilates all the rules of bonding, lol Yes, they can climb!!! When I had Morty in a cage abutting the girls, I had a T section of grids separating the cages. That way he would have had to climb upside down to get around the T part. I was warned by people who had climbing pigs
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Post by Bean on Oct 28, 2014 9:23:41 GMT
Uh oh! Sounds messy! Isn't hubby lovely buying you another - what a good egg! I hope you didn't attack it in a fit of rage because it represented how long you'd spent cleaning up the last one....?!
I think Weasley is going to win the high jump in the piggylympics! Mine can both do a good leap but not over a foot (although if it was a life or death situation rather than entertainment, I'm sure they could pull and extra inch or two out of the bag!).
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Post by 3piggles on Oct 28, 2014 12:08:24 GMT
There have been some great pigolympians, haven't there
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Post by jolovespiggies on Oct 28, 2014 17:03:23 GMT
This is great news love, I hope they continue to be good friends.
Hugs Jo xx
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Post by SiLamb on Oct 29, 2014 19:23:11 GMT
Piggles, you're forgiven I have a standard washer so stuffing everywhere. But that's okay...another life lesson. I do have a question. What temp do you wash it at? Cold, Warm or Hot? Bean, hubby is a very good egg. He called me while I was in the midst of the everything going wrong day and told me to just breathe and that'll it be okay. I told him to not expect much done by the time he got home as not only did I have the problems I mentioned above, but it seemed that everything that I touched that day was not working out. He was very understanding. Not only did he buy the uhaul pad, but he pre-washed and dried it as well! I know, it is amazing to me that Weasley jumped that high. I mean it is a plastic, slippery wall...huh?!? I sure wish I was a fly on the wall so that I could see it being done. I'm dreading the end of this week when I have to attempt the uhaul pad and cleaning of Hogwarts again.
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Post by 3piggles on Oct 29, 2014 20:34:06 GMT
Piggy cam Best way to watch piggies if you haven't finished the edges of the Uhaul blanket, either put it in one of those mesh laundry bags, or try washing it on the gentle or delicate cycle. For the few dollars those mesh bags cost, I would use that. I wash on hot, but I don't know if it's really necessary. I've also done extended cycles, mine is called Heavy Soil, and I think it works just as well as super hot. I'm not convinced the super hit is really sanitizing anything. Your hubby sounds wonderful
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Post by SiLamb on Oct 31, 2014 3:04:48 GMT
Friday is Hogwarts cleaning day...ugh, I'm so not looking forward to having to it. On brighter news, Weasley has started purring. Up till now Harry was our only purring piggie, but Weasley has joined the party. He isn't as loud as Harry, but that is to be expected. He isn't as loud as Harry on any point.
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Post by 3piggles on Oct 31, 2014 11:58:35 GMT
Ooh, purring is great Mia is my big purrer. Love it You'll get the cleaning down to s science. It just takes time, and a lot of trial and error. After a while you've kept all the things that worked, change what didn't work, and you have a system. I use pine bedding pellets in the main part of the cages, and that doesn't need to be changed for months. The kitchen areas are another story. That bedding could be changed every couple of days, and I haven't found a good option for those, yet. Working on it
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Post by jolovespiggies on Oct 31, 2014 17:30:29 GMT
Lacy-Hane purrs and is grumpy at the same time, I never know whether she is pleased to be cuddled or not LOL!!
Hugs JO xx
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